Method and apparatus for pressure testing large vessels
AssigneeThe Babcock & Wilcox Company
InventorsWilliam J. Bees, Dennis K. McDonald
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for pressure testing a large vessel utilizing a base enclosure having a base ring of the same diameter as the pressure vessel. The base enclosure includes a base plate welded to the base ring and beams under the base plate for supporting the weight of the base enclosure as well as the portion of the vessel to be tested. The vessel is fabricated in or divided into half portions with each portion being connected to a base ring for separate testing. This eliminates the excessive weight that would be experienced if the vessel were to be pressure tested as one unit, particularly in the case of hydrotesting where the vessel is filled with water.
Claims18
A method of pressure testing a large vessel, comprising:
- fabricating or dividing the vessel into a first portion having one closed end and an opposite open end, and a second portion having one closed end and an opposite open end;
- attaching a first base enclosure to the open end of the first portion for closing the open end of the first portion;
- attaching a second base enclosure to the open end of the second portion for closing the open end of the second portion;
- separately pressure testing the first and second portions of the vessel;
- subsequently disconnecting the first and second base enclosures from the first and second portions respectively for reopening the open ends of the first and second portions;
- and
- connecting or reconnecting the first and second portions of the vessel at their open ends for assembling the vessel.
A method according to claim including transporting the vessel to a site where it is to be used before the first and second portions are assembled or reassembled with each other.
An apparatus for pressure testing a large vessel, comprising:
- a base ring having an upper edge adapted to be attached to an open end of a vessel portion for pressure testing the vessel portion, the base ring having a lower edge;
- a base plate connected to the lower edge of the base ring to form a base enclosure with the base ring;
- inlet/outlet means connected to the base enclosure for admitting and releasing pressure fluid into and out of the base enclosure for pressure testing a vessel portion attached to the base ring;
- and
- support means connected to the base plate for supporting the weight of the base enclosure, a vessel portion to be pressure tested and a fluid contained in the vessel portion to be pressure tested.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.